The English translation of the lyrics was produced two years before Robert Stanley Weir wrote another English version, one that is not a literal translation of the French. Weir's lyrics have been revised twice, taking their present form in 1980, but the French lyrics remain unaltered. "O Canada" had served as a de facto national anthem since 1939, but it was not officially Canada's national anthem until 1980, when the Act of Parliament making it so was signed into law on July 1 as part of that year's Dominion Day celebrations.

Contents

Official lyrics

The official lyrics in English and French, as well as a translation of the French version and a transcription of Weir's original English-language poem, can be found on the Canadian government's Web site devoted to "Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion".[1][2]

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada!
Land of our forefathers,
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious
garland of flowers.
As is thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic
Of the most brilliant exploits.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rightsWill protect our homes and our rights.

Since 1867, "God Save the Queen" and "The Maple Leaf Forever" had been competing as unofficial national anthems in English Canada. "O Canada" joined that fray when a group of school children sang it for the 1901 tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V and Queen Mary). Five years later, the Whaley and Royce company in Toronto, Ontario, published the music with the French text and a first translation into English by Thomas Bedford Richardson. In 1908, Collier's Weekly magazine held a competition to write new English lyrics for "O Canada". The competition was won by Mercy E. Powell McCulloch, but her version never gained wide acceptance. In 1917, Albert Watson wrote his hymn "Lord of the Lands" to the tune of "O Canada".[5]

The English version that gained the widest currency was written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and at the time Recorder of the City of Montreal. A slightly modified version of his poem was published in an official form for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927, and gradually it became the most widely accepted and performed version of this song, winning out among the alternatives by the 1960s. The tune was thought to have become the de facto national anthem after King George VI remained at attention during its playing at the dedication of the National War Memorial on May 21, 1939.[6] The parliament of Canada recognised "O Canada" as the de facto national anthem in 1967, and it was officially made the national anthem via the National Anthem Act in 1980.[6] "God Save the Queen" is now Canada's royal anthem, played at events where the Monarch or the Governor-General is present, whereas "The Maple Leaf Forever" is a considerably less well-known song today.[1]

Many have noted that the opening theme of "O Canada", composed around 1880, bears a great resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" (March of the Priests), from the opera Die Zauberflöte ("The Magic Flute"), composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Some say that Mozart's tune inspired Lavallée to compose his melody.[7] The line "The True North strong and free" is based on Alfred Tennyson's description of Canada as "That True North whereof we lately heard". In the context of Tennyson's poem, the word "true" certainly means "loyal" or "faithful".[7]

Official changes to the English version were recommended in 1968 by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The National Anthem Act of 1980 added a religious reference to the English lyrics and the phrase "From far and wide, O Canada" to replace one of the somewhat tedious repetitions of the phrase "We stand on guard." This change was controversial with traditionalists, and for several years afterwards it was not uncommon to hear people (some by choice, some by memory reflex) still singing the old lyrics at public events. In contrast, the French version has never been changed from its original.[8] In fact, at public events where there may be participants singing both the French and English versions simultaneously, it is common to hear people singing the beginning in French and then switching to the English version, usually three or four lines before the end.

Two provinces have adopted Latin translations of phrases from the English lyrics as their mottos: Manitoba—Gloriosus et liber (glorious and free)—and Alberta —Fortis et liber (strong and free). Similarly, the motto of Canadian Forces Land Force Command is Vigilamus pro te. (We stand on guard for thee.)[9] In addition, the official website of the Canadian Government uses phrases from both the English and the French lyrics as mottos on its page headers—"The true north strong and free" in English and "Une épopée des plus brillants exploits" in French.[10]

Historical refrain

A page from Hymns of the Christian Life, 1962, depicting then long-standing refrain lyrics to O Canada, but not the original.

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The original English refrain was:

O Canada! O Canada!

O Canada. We stand on guard for thee.

By the late 1920s, this had been changed, as can be seen in the image and heard in the sound recording.[11]

O Canada, glorious and free,

We stand on guard, we stand on guard for thee!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

Original lyrics (English version)

Weir's 1908 lyrics consisted of the following three stanzas.[12][13] A fourth stanza was added later.

O Canada! Our home, our native land,

True patriot love thou dost in us command.

We see thee rising fair, dear land,

The True North strong and free;

And stand on guard, O Canada,

We stand on guard for thee.

Refrain

O Canada! O Canada!

O Canada. We stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Where Pines and Maples grow,

Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.

Thou art the land, O Canada,

From East to Western sea,

The land of hope for all who toil,

The land of liberty.

Refrain

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies,

May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise;

And so abide, O Canada,

From East to Western sea,

Where e’er thy pines and prairies are,

The True North strong and free.

Refrain

Other lyrics

Below are some slightly different versions of the second and third stanzas and the refrain, plus an additional fourth stanza,[1] but these are rarely sung.[14]

There is also a hymnal version of the lyrics, written by Albert D. Watson.[15]

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.

Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.

How dear to us thy broad domain,

From East to Western sea.

Thou land of hope for all who toil!

Thou True North, strong and free!

Refrain:

God keep our land glorious and free!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies

May stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise,

To keep thee steadfast through the years

From East to Western sea.

Our own beloved native land!

Our True North, strong and free!

Refrain

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,

Hold our Dominion in thy loving care;

Help us to find, O God, in thee

A lasting, rich reward,

As waiting for the better Day,

We ever stand on guard.

Refrain

Lord of the lands, beneath Thy bending skies,

On field and flood, where’er our banner flies,

Thy people lift their hearts to Thee,

Their grateful voices raise:

May our dominion ever be

A temple to Thy praise.

Thy will alone let all enthrone:

Refrain:

Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own:

Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own!

Almighty Love, by Thy mysterious power,

In wisdom guide, with faith and freedom dower;

Be ours a nation evermore

That no oppression blights,

Where justice rules from shore to shore,

From lakes to northern lights.

May love alone for wrong atone;

Refrain

Lord of the worlds, with strong eternal hand,

Hold us in honor, truth and self-command;

The loyal heart, the constant mind,

The courage to be true,

Our wide extending empire bind,

And all the earth renew.

Thy Name be known through every zone;

Refrain

Performances

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Singers at public events often mix the English and French lyrics to represent Canada's linguistic duality.[16][17] For example, one common form is singing the first three and last three lines in English. The last two lines could also alternate between English and French. Roger Doucet, the former singer of national anthems at the Montreal Forum for the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens team, almost always sang the first seven lines in French, and then completed the song in English. This practice has continued with the team's following anthem singers.

"O Canada" is routinely played before sporting events involving Canadian teams. The NHL requires arenas to perform both the Canadian and American national anthems at games that involve teams from both countries.[18]

Proposed changes to lyrics

Weir's original lyrics from 1908, consisting of three verses, did not contain the word sons, instead using the somewhat archaic "thou dost in us command", and it contained no religious reference.[1][11][20] Weir decided to change his lyrics to "in all thy sons command" in 1914,[21] and in 1926 added a fourth verse of a religious nature.[22]

In June 1990, the city council of Toronto voted 12-7 to recommend to the Canadian Government that the phrase "our home and native land" be changed to "our home and cherished land", and "true patriot love in all thy sons command" be changed to "true patriot love in all of us command". Also proposed, but rejected, was the idea of a phrase "with patriot love, thy sons and daughters stand". City Councillor Howard Moscoe said that the words "native land" were not appropriate for the many Canadians who were not native-born, and that the word "sons" implied "that women can't feel true patriotism or love for Canada."[23]

Feminists such as Senator Vivienne Poy have criticized the English lyrics of the anthem as being sexist.[24] In 2002, Poy introduced a bill to change the phrase "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command". In 2006, the anthem's religious references (to God in English, and to the Christian cross in French) were criticized by secularists.[25][26] On March 3, 2010, the throne speech delivered by Gov. Gen.Michaëlle Jean announced that the federal Parliament will be asked to review the "original gender-neutral wording of the national anthem". This was to change the current line "In all thy sons command" back to the original line "Thou dost in us command". there was also a suggestion for "In all thy hearts command"[27] However, three quarters of polled Canadians objected to the proposal[28], and two days later the Prime Minister's Office announced that the government had decided to leave the national anthem alone.[29]

Vancouver 2010 Olympics

On September 25, 2008, John Furlong, the chairman of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, announced that "With glowing hearts" from the English lyrics and "Des plus brillants exploits" from the French lyrics would be used as slogans for the 2010 Olympics[30]. Their use in connection with the Olympics was trademarked, a move which did not affect the use of O Canada.

From Wikisource

"O Canada" is the
national anthem of Canada; the music was composed by Calixa
Lavallée. The original French lyrics were
written by Sir Adolphe Basile Routhier, as a French-Canadian
patriotic song for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society. The English
version that gained the widest currency was written in 1908 by
Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and at the time Recorder of the City
of Montréal. When it was made the official anthem, most English
Canadians were surprised to learn that it did not already have such
status. "God Save the Queen" is now Canada's
royal anthem, while "The Maple Leaf Forever" is
virtually forgotten.

Contents

Official
versions

English

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land, glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Translation of French

French

English

Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,

O Canada! Home of our ancestors,

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

Your brow is wreathed with glorious garlands!

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,

Just as your arm knows how to wield the sword,

Il sait porter la croix!

It knows how to bear the cross.

Ton histoire est une épopée

Your history is an epic

Des plus brilliants exploits.

Of the most brilliant feats.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,

And your valour steeped in faith

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Will protect our homes and our rights

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Will protect our homes and our rights.

Original
poems

Original English poem by
Weir

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!

Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North, strong and free!

Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.

Refrain
O Canada! O Canada! etc.

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide
because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Original French poem by
Routhier

The original poem of 1880 by Adolphe-Basile Routhier.

French

English

Chant national

National Song

Ô Canada! terre de nos aïeux,

O Canada! Home of our ancestors,

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.

Your forehead is wreathed with glorious garlands.

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,

Because your arm knows the bearing of the sword,

Il sait porter la croix;

It knows the bearing of the cross;

Ton histoire est une épopée

Your history is an epic

Des plus brilliants exploits;

Of the most brilliant feats;

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,

And your valour steeped in faith

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Will protect our homes and our rights.

Sous l'œil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,

Under the eye of God, near the giant river,

Le Canadien grandit en espérant.

The Canadien grows as he hopes.

Il est né d'une race fière;

He is born of a proud race;

Béni fut son berceau.

Blessed was his cradle.

Le ciel a marqué sa carrière

Heaven marked his way

Dans ce monde nouveau:

In this new world:

Toujours guidé par Sa lumière,

Always guided by His light,

Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.

He will keep the honor of his flag.

De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,

Of his patron, precursor of the true God,

Il porte au front l'auréole de feu.

His forehead bears the aureole of fire.

Ennemi de la tyrannie,

Enemy of tyranny,

Mais plein de loyauté,

But full of loyalty,

Il sait garder dans l'harmonie

He knows how to keep in harmony

Sa fière liberté,

His proud liberty.

Et par l'effort de son génie

And by the effort of his genius

Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité.

On our soil establish the truth.

Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel,

Sacred love of the throne and the altar,

Remplis nos coeurs de ton souffle immortel.

Fill our hearts with your immortal breath.

Parmi les races étrangères

Among foreign races

Notre guide est la loi;

Our guide is the law;

Sachons être un peuple de frères

Let us be a people of brothers

Sous le joug de la Foi;

Under the yoke of Faith;

Et répétons comme nos pères

And let us repeat like our fathers

Le cri vainqueur: Pour le Christ et le Roi!

The victorious cry: For Christ and the King!

Source: Les Échos, Québec, P.-G. Delisle, 1882, p.
151-152

This work is in the public domain in
the United States because it was published before
January 1, 1923.

The author died in 1920, so this work is also in the
public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is
the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work
may also be in the public domain in countries and
areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter
term to foreign works.

Unofficial
versions

Sporting anthem
used in the 1970s and 1980s

This was a slightly modified version of the English lyrics used
in the 1970s and 1980s at sporting events.

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada glorious and free!
We stand on guard for rights and liberty.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Our home and native land,
True patriot love in all thy sons command!
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The True North strong and free,
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee;
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

("Canada, our home and the country where we were born, you make all your people truly love you! With joy we watch you get better and better. You are the True North, strong and free. Our citizens come from all over the earth and we watch over you to keep you safe. God, please keep our land good and free! O Canada, we watch over you to keep you safe.")

Here are the words in French. The words in French and English do not mean the same thing.

("Canada, land of our parents and grandparents, you wear a crown of beautiful flowers! You can carry a sword, and you can carry a cross (for Christianity); your whole history is full of the great things you have done. You are brave and faithful, and this will protect our homes and our rights.")